Aphra

Hebrew, variation of Aphrah

"dust"

Aphra Origin and Meaning

The name Aphra is a girl's name of Hebrew origin meaning "dust".

Aphra would make an interesting choice-- especially since it's the name of the first professional female writer in English, the seventeenth century's Aphra Behn. Born in 1640, she was a prolific dramatist of the English Restoration, and a spy.

The spelling Aphra was probably inspired by the biblical place name Aphrah, but in medieval English records it also had spellings such as Eaffry and Affery, and is thought to derive from Anglo-Saxon names such as Aethelthryth and Aelthryth — which would make it a cousin of Audrey.

In antiquity, Afra was also a name for a woman from Africa that eventually became a given name, and was borne by several Roman saints.

Aphra Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

# 1073 on Nameberry

Aphra Popularity

• 1073 Nameberry 2024

20 Names Similar to Aphra

These 20 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like Aphra.

• Abelia
• Amandine
• Amica
• Cyra
• Arria
• Alethea
• Anthea
• Nesta
• Althea
• Astraea
• Nessa
• Eithne
• Athalia
• Araminta
• Arcadia
• Adelpha
• Ailsa
• Astra
• Amabel
• Arianwen

Famous People Named Aphra

• Aphra Behn English poet, playwright, spy

Aphra in Pop Culture

• Aphra Marsh main character of the "Innsmouth Legacy" series by Ruthanna Emrys
• Chelli Lona Aphra character in Star Wars comic series
• Aphrah (a place mentioned in the Book of Micah) was supposedly used as a unisex given name by the Puritans